Improved washing-machine



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL KELLER AND JOSHUA ROGERS, OF SUBLETTE, ILLINOIS.

' IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,310, dated April 2S, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, PAUL KELLER and J osHUA RoGERs, of Sublette, county ot' Lee, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in^Washing Machines; and we do hereby declare that the followingA is a full and exact description thereot', reference beingI had to the accompanying drawings, making vpart of this speciticatiou.

Figure 1 is a plan ofour improved machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section'ot` the same; Fig. 3, a perspective View ot' one section or halt'ot' the removable concave washingbed; Fig. 4, a view of the arrangement for adjusting the rubber.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the ligures.

Our improved machine is of that class in brating rubber over it, and between which 'parts the clothes are placed for washing.

The invention consists in making the bed in two sections or halves, fitting together in the receptacle and suitably secured in place in such a manner that they may be easily removed for cleaning or other purposes; and, furthermore, in the use of a central transverse partition or diaphragm across the interior of the rubber, by which means, during the vibrations of the same, an agitation or current is imparted to the water, so as to more ett'ectually clean the clothes.

A box, tub, or receptacle is provided, of any convenient or desirable form, in which rests a concave washing-bed, provided with the ordinary transverse slats, a c, over which the clothes rest while being Washed. rlhis bed is made up of two halves or sections, B B', which are counterparts, fitting together so as to present an unbroken surface in the receptacle, and composed, respectively, of two opposite frame-pieces, b b, to which the slats are secured'by nailing or otherwise. The form and construction otl these sections are represented most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

In placing the sections in the receptacle, the part B is first inserted, with the upper ends of its framepieces resting under a transverse ledge or shoulder, c, Figs. 1 and 2, secured at the proper position on the inside of the receptacle. The other section, B, is then inserted and retained by means of buttons d d, secured to the receptacle, turning down over the ends of its frame-pieces, as represented. rEhe bed is thus readily and expeditiously inserted or removed, and when in place is as securely and rmly retained as itl it formed a rigid portion ot' the receptacle. Midway on each side ot' the receptacle, outside, is situated a vertical guide, (l, Figs. 1- and 4, in which is retained and slides a bearing,f, sustaining` in its top the axis g, of the usual convex rubber, D, by'which means the latter is supported and adjusted higher or lower, to adapt the parts to the amount of clothing to be washed at once. The rubber is provided with the ordinary handle, E, by which itis actuated, and also with the usual transverse slats, h h., for acting on the clothing. Centrally across the inside ot' the rubber, extending from side to side, is situated a transverse partition or diaphragm, G, of a suitable height for the purpose designed, as represented in Figs. l and 2. This partition divides the interior of the rubber into two apartments or divisions,t' and K, and its use will be presently described.

By the arrangement above described sev- -eral important advantages are attained. By

being removable, the sections of the washingbed can be taken out for cleaninga matter of consequence, for in ordinary arrangements the same is made fast to the receptacle, and the dirt and impurities that always settle from the washing find a resting-place within and-beneath the slats, and cannot be removed by mere rinsing or agitation ot' water in the receptacle. A mass of slime and impurity thus collects, which not only causes the parts in Contact to decay, but also by the agitation is brought in contact with the clothes while being washed, and thus prevents their becoming perfectly white and clean. In-our invention this difficulty is obviated, for the sections only have to be removed in order to be thoroughly washed and cleaned, and in doing' this the receptacle is also let't entirely open and exposed, so that there is likewise no difficulty in removing all the dirt. When thus removed, the parts also quickly become dry, thus preserving them longer from decay than when the whole is made rigid, where the water can settle and be retained beneath. While these results are accomplished, the bed retains its its usual concave form, occupying the whole area of the receptacle, and thus economizing space to the greatest degree, and retaining that form that characterizes this particular class of machines, which are found to be the most effective in use-viz., the concave bed and convex, vibrating rubber. By the use of the partition G across the middle of the rubber, each vibration throws that quantity of water in one of the divisions of said rubber forward and elevates it above the general level at the same time, this tending` to create a vacuum in the rear. To illustrate: Suppose the rubber to be vibrating in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. Then `the water in the division t', in front, will be vcarried forward and elevated above the general level of water in the receptacle, and consequently the water to iill the vacuum created by this motion will follow up in the rear, thus producing an intense agitation or current against and through the clothing in the direction' of motion, which, combined with the friction produced by the rubber, is most et'- fectual in cleansing them. In addition to this agitation, caused by the positive forward-andback motion, the water that is elevated in the division i must fall to its level again, and in doing so passes through the slats vertically, and thus produces another agitating action. This current in the water is the most effectual method of cleaning, as the dirt is carried out from the articles as fast as it is softened and started. The concave bed, rising gradually from bottom to top, presents the best form to break the current of'wa-ter produced by the partition, by opposing a graduated angle instead of a vertical or nearly hor,- izontal surface. The partition, by being situated in the middle of the rubber, produces an equal and regular action in the vibrations by moving the water equally in both directions, which would not be the case if it were situated on one side of the center. If too much power is required to work the machine, from the resistance ofthe water, a few holes, Z l, may be made through the partition, as represented in Fig. 2.

Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

lhe cross-partition G, dividing the rubber D into two compartments, when the said rubber is used in connection with the removable sections B B, the whole arranged, com bined, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In witn ess whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL KELLER. JOSHUA ROGERS. Witnesses:

A. L. WILDER, J AMES DEXTER. 

